Fruit-grader.



0. K. PORTER.

mun GRADER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-20' I9l3- RENEWED APR. [4.]

Pat

ented May 23, 1916. 3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

O. K. PORTER.

FRUIT GRADER.

APPLICATION men MAR.20. I913. RENEWED APR. 14.1916.

Patented May 23, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- O. K. PORTER.

FRUIT GRADER. v APPLICATION FILED MMLO, 1913- RENEWED APR. PM 1916- 1 ,1 84,209. Patented May 23; 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

* 'oNrrED STATES ATEN QFFICE.

ORSON K PORT R, OF THE BALL-ES, OREGON, ASSIGNOB TO OREGON FRUIT CLEANER COMPANY, OF THE DALLES, OREeOr n CORPORATION OF OREGON.

' FBUIT-GBADER.

Application filed March 20, 1913, Serial No. 755,611. Renewed. April l l, 1916. Serial No. 91,260.

ZoaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, ORSON K. PORTER, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of The Dalles, in the county of Wasco and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Graders, of which the following a specification.

1 My- 'nvention relates to fruit graders," and ,while differing in' many respects'from the grader of my Patent No."1,04:3,24c9, granted November 5, 1912, has certain broad features in common therewith. Furthermore, the

embodiment of my inventionillustrated and described hereinincludes'alsovarious of the featuresdescribed and claimed in my companion application Serial No. 755,610, filed of even date herewith.

The machine of the present application common with the graders of my aforesaid patent and companion applicatiomis-provided with individualfruit'holding bags Or pockets movable Over a series ofbinsfrom both the said graders, in providing gages:

carried with individual fruit holders having variable Outlets andmovable over successive bins, and also-means for causing relative bodily movementbetween the gagesand individual fruitholders to vary said outlets.

It presents various novel features herein- 9 after described'and hasthe advantages of simplicity, strength, comparative absence of friction, avoidance of springs, etc.-

- invention therefore consists] in th matters hereinafter described and 'moreparticularly set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan' view of the grader, certain'parts being brokenaway; Fig. 2 is a verticalsection on theflinie 2-2 of Fig.1 Fig. 3is a detail perspective view illustrating the Ji'riod'e of feeding fruit from the elbow spoutto one of the individual fruit holders; Fig. 4 "is. a central verticalsection thro-ughone of said fruit holders and adjacent parts; Fig. 5 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 4.'

It isobvious that my inventionmay be i embodied'in a'machine in which thebins are arranged in a straight line instead Ofin a holders. "of a number'of-separa'te sections 24 which circle, but I prefer themore compact circular form. In using the term bin I intend Patented May 2 3, 1916.

to include any means for receiving the graded fruit and keeping the grades separate, as floor space, belts, receptacles of various kinds, etc.

- The general formof the machine and the construction Ofthe-bins being that illustrated and describedin my said companion application need not be described in; detail here. It is sufficient to say that the bins-'1 having a canvas flooring a are supported by inner and outer legs 2 and 3 respectively-and that suitable braces 4 and 5 are employed along with additional cross framing 6 and" '7 'inwhich is rotatablysupported an upright shaft 8 driven by a belt 9 through pulley 10 fast on a shaft 11 rotatably mounted 1n the framing,the small bevel-gear 12 fast thereto and the large bevel gear 13 fast to the shaft 8. Rotatable with the shaft 11 and fast thereto isthe" gage frame 14 which in the simple formillustrated herein 1s an annular band supported by the spokes 15 and provided with gage holes 16 which preferably'have beveled edges 17 at each side of whichare located in radial lines sleeves Orbushings 18 through which the supports for the individual fruit holders may move up and down. 1

The fruit holding bags or pockets are provided at their" tops with rings 19 having lugs 20 in which are secured upright legs or supinto holes in the lugs 20. These supports are provided at their lower ends with anti friction" rollers 23 for coaction with cam tracks to be hereinafter described. The supports which as stated pass up through'the sleeves -or bushings 18 constitute with the rings 19 supporting frames for the fruit 1 These fruit holders are made up project down through the holders 16 which are of uniform size. The sections 24: are

hinged to or hung from the said rings 19 be made of flex'ible'material hungoi' hinged to the rings 19 or of spring metal riveted friction and might necessitate the provision 'tionary, or to of means for'positively returning the'fru'it holders to closed position. It Will be noted that the bags or pocketsas shown -in Fighave the adjacent edges of their sections 24 in contact but it is .not necessary that'thisf I be the-lease even when the ,holders are :-in a what might be called the closed position;- 7 that is, the position in Which the outlet; is

strips orsectionsmight-he used., The interior of the; holders is-clothed withfsoftima Y terial as canvas or Wool feltasyindicated atl' 27, this "clothing beingpreferably :both glued and ;riv etejd.-" Thezconstruotion is such a that Whatever ithe size of" the outlet its,

, shape isralways circular, Which-has been:-

' found to be the best if not the only; prac tica'bleshape.v It will loeobv ious' from the;

description Vs already given. that'the sizeof the outlet opening dependson the relative position of the fruit holder andthegage 14,

at itssmallest. Itis true also that narrower the outlet being smallest When the ring 19 and 'the ga'ge" 14L arenearest together and;

largest When'they are farthest apart. .The means for producing this relative movement Will novv he describedbut it is to beb'orne in v inindthatvvhilethe arrangement illustrated seems the simplest it would be possible to move the'gage, keepingthe fruit holder 'sta' a move both the gage'and the fruit holder;

Ce rtain ofthe inner legs/2 are extended J up beyond the cross framing 7 and the-tops:

ofthe bins/as indicated at BOandsuppOrt brackets having vertical legs 31" andfhoria fzon'tal members 32. These 'brackets are 1 ad}. 'justably-mounted by means of slots 83in the vertical legs 31 through which projects the: bolt 34 provided ith theWing nut{35.'- 1 Corresponding brackets to whichl'have'applied the same reference characters;are ad i. i i ab yupp fte Oi t re s itra ng fff these brackets being' nearer I thef center {than the first andthe braokets'b'eing arranged in pairs of an inner and fan-outer bracket arranged on radial lines; The "fLIII ClfiOIi IOf V these brackets .isto supporta' pairj 'of earn Whole: of each rail may be; adj ustedfjat 7 once. *i

rails 36-37, which; as the construction ;is

illustrated, are [permanently securedfto the a It is obviousfhowveverfthat"eachfoam 'rail chine,';rise either in a continuousigradualin corresponding to successive bins each fsecapplication. P This flf'jarrangement would, howeveryunnecessari'ly increase the' vtions .of the fruitfholders are overbal r o w yl- I might be composed of individually"adjust-a-- able sections; ,Thejcam rails are lowestj usti I V a back of the head of the grader; and, as they extend forward toward. thejfootofthe ma .11 d r ha i a a i j c e s; amehav n edg n d ne eans fbr sa d lt fi and means fo m an u ly moving saidv frame and holders over; said i tion being a little higher than the section next preceding it, until the ,fOO t Of the, 1 grader is-reached when there is a comparai F tively-siidden drop'38, :The 'cam rails 361 37 correspond so that they have the sa'me effect; 0 a "upon" hoth side s of the fruit holders,flthe7 "rollers' 23 of Whose supports21 run on them; .asthe frame 14 is'rot'atedin the operation a of the ,machine, the res'ultfbe'in'gthegradual' raising of the fruit h'c'ilding bags orpocket s' over successive "binsfromthe head to the 7 I foot'ofthe grader.

in my'jaforesai'd; companion application; s consists of Ian. elbow, spout 8'9if li0 clothed With soft material 41 and havinginitshot-f ,sually ci'irved 'from a substantially horizontal plane -to a substantially vertical plane; This slot .lies in the arc of the .circle of with clothing 44.

carrying Withitthe individual fruit holding ;bagsor pockets isrotated;theholders being moved over successiye;binsfrofiikthe head t'o' the foot of the grader, theQLfeeTd-stIibLQ feed ing? fruit from; thej-elhowi'spout into --t he] correspondingrholder which then} car-j T ries thesame toai pointat whichfthebut. let ;of the holder has enlarged}sufficiently; .1; 1, 7 by reason of theupwardimovement 'of the goverthecamrails, to rele'ase the fruit,.;the

holder caused I by the passage ,Ofits su'pportsf and theXohtlet continuing-to open wider;

reached; at Wl 1l 0h time the sudden drops '38 of the eamra ls permit thej'holders to drop for the nexft cyeljeof operations. I

The {gages have beenl illustratedgas'; ,oIn-, bin'ed into a unitary structure, but the 1-individual gages might, if desired,-;he:separate fandseparately movable. I Asthe'gage-frame is-reallyfaseries of gages so each camr-rail, I V w I I even if 'c ontinuou-s, is'a'seriesoffcams. It l members 32 of" the bracketssothat the:

u 5 with reference to the frame l tla's it p a'ssms vhichthe axis'of themachine is thecenter .1;: andin Whi'chthecente'rs oftherrin-gsy -lgof a: theindividuahfruit holders lie. Each fruit-'90 lholder carries a feedst'ub 43s for-passage throughisaidsloh said stub'being provided holder'- thene passingoverg the'remaining bins ,until just'before the-'head-of,themachine is Y e; gage cpmpelline th s ct on afi-io'f. t e s 2;; r itolr' t r ft'o: Q S T-PQ i fi n tim I tvill be apparentthat the l -tdependingjsee f @What I cla'iinffajsfm liiitritibii is {LAC u t graderv co'mp "s ng 'divi ation ;a series of bins 11 a fruit gage anced r bins from the head to the foot of the grader,

' anda cam track for supporting said holders and for raising andlowering them with respect to'said gage frame as; they move with the gage frame. p

, 2. A fruit grader comprising 1n combination, a gage frame having gage holes, 1nd1- vidual fruit holding bags or pockets carried by said gage frame and having freely movable sections depending 'throughsaid'gage holes and contacting with the edges thereof, and cams for raising and lowering said individual fruit holding bags or pockets with respect to said gage frame to permit the sections to move outward to increase the outlet opening and forcing them to move inward to decrease it.

l 3. A fruit grader comprising in-combina- I tion, a seriesof-bins, a gage frame having ,a'series of gage'holes of uniform size, a p'luralityof individual fruit'holding bags or pockets each provided with supporting legs passing through said gage frame at opposite sides of a gage hole, said'holders being provided with a series of sections hinged at the top, depending freely'through said gage holes and contactingwith the edges thereof, and'supporting cam railsfor cooperating with the ends of the supporting legs to raise thefruit holders as they pass over su'ccessivebins to increase the: outlet opening and to lowerthem to decrease'it before the head of thegrader is reached.

' 4. A fruit grader comprisingin' combination, a series of bins, a gage frame having a ser1es of gage holes, upright fruit holders movable with said gage frame and havlng a series of inwardly and outwardlymovable' sections depending through said gage holes contacting with the edges thereof and providing means for moving said gage frame and fruit automatically v variable outlets,

holders over successive bins, cam operated means for raising said fruit holders as they pass over successive bins and for lowering them, and guides carried by said gagesfor maintaining the fruit holders upright and guiding their up and down movement.

5. A fruit grader comp'risingin combination, a series ofbins, a gage frame having a series of alined gage holes, and a; pair of guide holes adjacenteach gage hole and in line, with the axis thereof, upright fruitv holders having a top ringof greater diameter than said gage holes and a pair of upright legs secured to said ring and passing through said guide holes, said holders being also provided-with a series of'movable sections hung on said topring depending freely through said gage holes and contacting with-the edges'thereof, cam rails supporting said legs, and meansfor moving 7 said gage frame and upright fruit holders over successive bins from the head to the foot of the grader, the cam rails raising the holders with reference to the gage frame to permit the automatic enlargement of the outlet of thefruit holders during this movement and returning them into the original position;

6. A'fruit grader comprising in combination, a series of bins, a gage frame having y a plurality of gage holes of uniform size and a pair of tubular guides or bushings at the side of each of said holes, upright fruit holders having frames provided with legs depending through said tubular guides. or

bushings and with a series of inwardly and outwardly movable sections secured'to said frame extending inwardly. and depending:

freely through said vgage'holes to provide automatically variable outlets. for the fruit holders, a pair of camrails coacting with saidlegs thus supporting said fruit holders,

and means for moving. said .gage'frame and fruitholdersover successive bins from the head'to the foot of the grader, said cam rails gradually raising said holders to-pe'rmitthe successivev enlargement of the outlets of the I fruitiholdersas they" pass over successive position. s V

'7. A fruit grader. comprising 111. comb1nat on, a series of b1ns,.-a gage frame having bins and. returning them to their original round gage holes of uniform size provided with downwardly and inwardly beveled edges, individual fruit holding bags or pockets having top rings of greaterdiameter than said gage holes and a plurality of curved sections hinged to said ring depend-- ing freely throughsaid holes and overbalanced outwardly, means for moving said gage frame and holders over the successive bins from the head to the foot of the grader,

and. stationary cams coacting with said in- 'CllVlQlllEtl fruit holding bags or pockets to raise and lower them to gradually enlarge the outlet opening as the holders are moved over the successive bins.

8. A fruit grader comprising in combination, a series of bins, agage frame provided with gage holes of uniform size and with guide holes at opposite sides of each gage hole, individual fruit holders having top rings supported by legs passing down 1 around said shaft, said gages having gage holes and said fruit holders being automatiliO i4; is

, cally expansible and depending through said gage holes, operative connectionsbe-g tween said pairs of gages ,and'holder's' and 1 'the shaft, means for rotating-th'e 'Shaft to' carry the holders and-gages over successive bins, and stationarycamsscoacting with a member of each pair to movesaid member bodily with respect to the other to permit 10. A fruit grader comprisingin-combi- 1 Pending through.said iholes hinged at" the top of the holder but" otherwisefree there- 1 from and overloalanced outwardly, operative connections between said pairs of'gages and 'fholders and the shaft,"means1 for rotating the shaft: to give travel to' the .holdersandj g porting legs passing through vthe guide holes,

gages, and stationary' cams co-actingwith amember' of each pair tomovesziid member I iifbodily withresp'ect ito" the; other'gas they 25: 7 1 dividual fruit holders. v

travel to permit .the expansion of l the inpending freely through :said gage holes,

' lowering said holders as they move with the copies of this patent may be obtained for means for rotating said, shaft with said a I 7 111- testimonyiw-hereof laflixmy signature -1 gage frame and-individual fruit: holders, and cam operated means-for raising "and gage] frame.

'12. A fruit grader comprising in Gamanation, a central upright shaft, aseries-of j radial bins around said shaft, an annular;

gage frame over, said ,bins mounted for rogage frame having variableoutlets and reariried withcsaid annular gage frame, and apair of circularcam rails for co-action with said fruit holders to raise the same as the 7 support lower it.

passes 'over successive bins, and to v v V 150 13. A fruitgrader comprising inwcombig V a nation, annpright'shaft, a series of bins j aroundzj'said shaft, an annular gage frame 1 r mountedlforprotationwith said shaft, and having "a series of round gage holes .of uni- ,form ;size. hav ing' their axesin a circle a tation With said shaft,";means' for-rotating 3 said shaft, automatically eXpansilo'le individual fruit holders]dependingthrough'said f 45 around the "said ,shaftlzlrld. providedflalso with-a pair of'guidef holes lying in, radial .planes through said vaxes, individual fruit :j 360 a holders having "movable sections depending, through; said gage'jholes and having sup- -means for rotatingsaid shaft and with it said-gage frame and fruit holders,.and cam rails coactirig with said legs to raise andv a lower the lfruit holders with reference to 11. A fruit grader comprisingjin-comhination, a vertical shaft, an annular-f gage v frame having gage holes and secured to said shaft for rotation therewith, 'a pluralityof fruit holders havingmovable sectionsfdei the gage "frame during their 11' oint rotation, individual. fruit holder. for fruit graders having top ring and a series of depending 'inwardlyp.-extending. sections overbalanced 'outvvardly f presence-of two witnesses.

' wasmng' omD- L i 70 curved both fcrosswise and 1 lengthwise and 7 hinged oncsaldiringgbut otherwise free;and

I 11 3 PORT R fivecent; each, byfaidiirs sing the ffq on niiss iozier o! fiet e nt s. 

